2015 Southern District Award Winners
Donna L. Dunaway Medal — Cam Kerst-Davis
Kerst-Davis holds degrees in health and physical education from Washington State
University, Pacific Lutheran University and Middle Tennessee State University. For more
than 40 years, she has been a passionate and relentless advocate for quality physical
education. For 38 years she worked as an elementary physical education specialist, rising
to the upper-most echelons of “practitioner-scholars” in the United States.
Among Kerst-Davis’s most revered traits is that she is a positive and productive
collaborator, as evidenced by her participation in co-writing or revising numerous state standards and
frameworks over the years, including the Tennessee K-8 Comprehensive School Health Education
Framework, the Tennessee Health and Physical Education Standards, and NASPE’s Developmentally
Appropriate Practices, among several others. She has also been called to many “acronym groups” and task
forces over the past 40 years; if the project or task is important, if it is difficult and if it is tedious, you want
Kerst-Davis on the team.
Kerst-Davis has served in a variety of unique and special roles as a longtime member of the Southern
District Board of Directors, including president, vice president of physical education, vice president of the
general division, representative to the Board of Governors of AAHPERD (2009-2012), and convention
program planning chair for the past nine years. Not surprisingly, in recent years her Tennessee Association
called her to serve as executive director. In each role, she has proven to be an ethical leader, wise counselor,
strategic problem solver and “get-the-job-done-right” professional.
Her expertise, exquisite understanding of curriculum and proven program excellence have earned her
pinnacle distinctions, including a NASPE “STAR” School Award between 2004-2009 and National Board
Certification in Physical Education and Early/Middle Childhood. Kerst-Davis earned the Johnson County
Teacher of the Year award in 1993, and in 1994 she was honored as both the Tennessee and Southern
District Elementary Physical Educator of the Year. She has also received Honor Awards from Tennessee
AHPERD, Southern District and SHAPE America.
Kerst-Davis is a lighthouse of knowledge and the epitome of positive engagement in the health and physical
education profession. Scholar, author, leader, organizer, advocate and representative are among the many
roles she has enjoyed throughout her long and distinguished career, but the role that most closely aligns
with her passion and heart is that of physical education teacher. In recognition of her body of professional
work and accomplishments, her service and scholarship, the 2015 Dunaway Medal is presented to Dr. Cam
Kerst-Davis.
2015 Southern District Award Winners
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Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year — J.D. Hughes
J.D. Hughes has been an elementary physical education teacher in Douglasville, GA, since
1995. At his current school, Mirror Lake Elementary, he provides a challenging, yet
developmentally appropriate physical education learning environment. In his classes,
Hughes strives to develop his students’ motor and social skills, physical fitness and
cognitive awareness. He also works with students and families to promote physical fitness
before and after school through the F.I.T.T. Club and Roadrunner’s Club.
A National Board Certified Teacher, Hughes serves as a cooperating teacher and mentor for local
colleges, and is constantly striving to improve his teaching, share his practice and strengthen the
teaching profession. He has been a member of the GAHPERD board and currently serves on the advisory
board for the Best Practices and 3-5 Lesson Plans area of P.E. Central. In 2014, he was named
GAHPERD Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year. Hughes has published five books and
produced four related DVDs. He has been the featured presenter and co-presenter at more than 140 local,
state and national workshops and conventions.
Middle School Physical Education Teacher of the Year — Dave Senecal
Dave Senecal has been a physical education specialist in Paulding County, GA, since
1997. Over the years, he has been instrumental in the design and installation of more
than 20 miles of recreational trails in and around the county, and has served as the
voluntary elementary physical education professional development coordinator for his
school district.
In 2012, Senecal was given an opportunity to open P.B. Ritch Middle School. Since
then, he has built an award-winning program at the school. By securing multiple grants, Senecal was
able to purchase longboards and mountain bikes, allowing him to teach students activities they can
participate in after school and on weekends. In 2008, Senecal was selected as one of 16 physical
education specialists to write the current Georgia Physical Education Standards. He has served as
recreation chair and vice president of the General Division for GAHPERD. In 2010, Senecal was named
GAHPERD Recreation Specialist of the Year, and in 2014 he was named GAHPERD Middle School Physical
Education Teacher of the Year.
High School Physical Education Teacher of the Year — Barbara Berry
Barbara Berry, a 23-year veteran of Brevard County Public Schools, has been a physical
education teacher at Eau Gallie High School in Melbourne, FL, since 1994. In addition
to teaching, she has served as the school’s athletic director and has been the chair of
the Physical Education/Health Department for more than 15 years. Since 2006, she
has also served as director of her school’s Health and Wellness Academy, which was
established to promote health and wellness education and to prepare students for
careers in the health sciences.
An ardent student herself, Berry has completed advanced training in Advancement Via Individual
Determination (AVID), as well as sports medicine care and prevention of athletic injuries. Beyond the
classroom, she has mentored students in the J. Kyle Braid Leadership Group, been committee chair for the
SHAPE Florida Sport/Athletics Committee, and served as the lead curriculum writer for high school physical
education teachers in Brevard County. In Berry’s own words, “Physical education is far more than a
profession for me, it is a lifelong passion.”
2015 Southern District Award Winners
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Adapted Physical Education Teacher of the Year — Meredith Morton
A nationally certified teacher in adapted physical education, Meredith Morton has
been teaching K-12 adapted physical education for more than eight years in Hanover
County Public Schools near Richmond, VA. Highlights of her career include initiating
Hanover’s first annual Special Olympics “Little Feet Meet,” starting Hanover’s first
chapter of Achilles International’s “Achilles Kids: Run to Learn” virtual marathon
walk/run/roll program, and helping develop a toolkit to support students who have
sustained a brain injury.
Morton has been a member of VAHPERD for nine years and has served as adapted PE chair and
a member of the Grant Committee. She has presented at the VAHPERD convention and at the James
Madison University Health and Physical Activity Institute on topics such as “How to Host a Little Feet
Meet,” “Simple and Quick Modifications to Facilitate Inclusion of Students with Disabilities in PE,” and
“Favorite Games and Strategies for Success of Students of All Ages and Abilities.” She is the 20142015 VAHPERD Adapted Physical Education Teacher of the Year.
Health Education Teacher of the Year — Delia Thibodeaux
In 1996, Delia Thibodeaux began her career as a math teacher at North Shore Senior
High School in Houston. After teaching math at several schools, she decided to switch
to health education in 2005.
In her current teaching position at Westside High School, Thibodeaux uses technology
in the classroom and has her students participate in research, create and present
skits and PowerPoint presentations, design brochures, and write children’s books. Her
students are engaged in learning about current health issues such as teen pregnancy, alcohol, drugs,
relationships and mental health.
Thibodeaux is the curriculum writer for the Houston Independent School District, is a member of the
School Health Advisory Council, and has spoken to the Texas Education Agency Board as an advocate
for keeping health education as a graduation requirement course. She also trains students and school
district personnel in CPR/AED and serves as a volunteer and presenter for TAHPERD.
Honor Award — Tecca Kilmer
Tecca Kilmer is a leader and professional advocate at the state, district and national
levels. Most recently she served as president of SHAPE Florida, and she is currently
serving on the Southern District Leadership Council. She is also the district’s Let’s
Move! Active Schools coordinator and is on the advocacy committee.
Kilmer is a National Board Certified teacher who has been teaching at Turkey Creek
Middle School in Plant City, FL, for the past 16 years. Recently, she created the
Healthy Hearts Club, which gives students the opportunity to educate the community on health-related
issues. She also created programs to benefit her students and community such as FIT (Families
Involved Together), Olympic Day and an annual health fair. She is the Hoops For Heart coordinator, a
Special Olympics coach, and advisor to the Archery Club and Best Buddies Club.
2015 Southern District Award Winners
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Scholar Award — Damon Andrew
Damon Andrew is dean of the College of Human Sciences and Education at Louisiana
State University. His scholarly productivity on topics such as leadership in sport and
the effective integration of individuals with disabilities into the sporting environment
has included a research methods textbook; 29 funded grants and contracts; more
than 120 peer-reviewed articles, reviews, proceedings, and book chapters; and more
than 80 presentations at national and international conferences.
Dr. Andrew has served as member-at-large for the North American Society for Sport Management and
financial officer for the Sport and Recreation Law Association. Recently he began a three-year term as
vice chair, chair-elect, and chair of the board of the American Association of University Administrators.
He is currently editor of the Sport Management Education Journal, editor of the Journal of Applied Sport
Management, senior editor of the Journal of Higher Education Management, and associate editor of the
International Journal of Sport Management and Marketing.
Taylor Dodson Young Professional Award — Brian Mosier
Brian Mosier is an assistant professor of health and physical education at the
University of West Georgia. At the university, he serves on the Wolf Wellness Advisory
Council and Disability Awareness Day Committee, and is an active member of the
Leadership Development Team, Online Peer Review Team, Faculty Governance
Council, and Doctoral Degree Advisory Committee. His numerous awards include the
2012 Young Scholar Award and the 2014 College/University Physical Education
Teacher of the Year award from GAHPERD. Dr. Mosier is a column editor for the
Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, and a member of the GAHPERD Editorial Board.
As stated by one of his nominators, “Dr. Mosier has been a valuable contributor to the work of SHAPE
America. He is always happy to share his time and talents with the membership through publication,
presentations and participation in committee work. The spirit of service that he demonstrates makes
him a wonderful recipient of the Taylor Dodson Award.”
Ethnic Minority Award — Tarin T.D. Hampton
Tarin T. Dumas Hampton is an associate professor in the Department of Health,
Physical Education & Exercise Science at Norfolk State University. Her teaching career
spans all grade levels across the United States and internationally. She was invited on
sabbatical to the University of Cape Coast in Ghana, West Africa, where she assisted
colleagues in the Music Department by developing the curriculum for the Bachelor of
Arts Dance Major. Her primary areas of teaching are dance and health and physical
education.
Dr. Hampton has been a member of the Ethnic Minority Committee since its inception, is a two-time
Fulbright-Hayes Scholarship recipient, career-long member of AAHPERD (now SHAPE America), past
promotions director of National Dance Association, and member/delegate of IAHPERD and GAHPERD.
She currently serves commissioner for the Division of Dance of the International Council for Health,
Physical Education, Recreation, Sport, and Dance and is vice president-elect for the Dance Division of
VAHPERD.
2015 Southern District Award Winners
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Recreational Professional of the Year — Jack O’Donnell
Jack O'Donnell is an elementary physical education teacher at St. Christopher’s
School in Richmond, VA. He is also an assistant with the varsity soccer team and head
coach of the eighth-grade lacrosse team. O’Donnell has 29 years of teaching and
coaching experience. He has attended multiple SHAPE America (formerly AAHPERD)
national conventions and has presented at several VAHPERD and Virginia
Independent Schools (VAIS) conventions.
At St. Christopher’s, O’Donnell has won two of the four highest awards given to faculty: the 1995 Bolling
Award (for strengthening the bond between faculty and students) and the 2011 Jacobs Distinguished
Coaching Award. He was recently named the National High School Assistant Coach of the Year by the
National Soccer Coaches Association of America. His commitment to educating students about
developing and maintaining a physically active lifestyle has also included working with soccer, lacrosse,
aquatics, hiking and biking camps for ages 3-5 and 5-12.
Sport Professional of the Year — Willie Hey
Dr. Willie Hey has almost 30 years of higher education experience and has taught
many undergraduate and graduate courses. Currently, he is the graduate coordinator
of the Sport Media & Branding (SMB) concentration within the Master of Science in
Recreation & Sport Administration graduate at Western Kentucky University. He
provides leadership and other vital input for curriculum development, creating
course assignments and marketing strategies for the SMB concentration. The SMB
concentration is an innovative, first of its kind online program resulting from a
partnership between the School of Kinesiology, Recreation & Sport and the School of Journalism &
Broadcasting.
Dr. Hey has been a long time contributor to his state, district and national affiliations and remains active
in research. He co-presented two sessions at last year’s Southern District convention and was selected
to present a session titled, “Identifying Criteria for Assessing Case Studies Related to Sport Legal
Issues” at this year’s Atlanta convention.
College/University Dance Educator of the Year — Susan Mayes
Susan Williams Mayes began work at the University of Arkansas after 10 years of
public school teaching in physical education and dance. In her 31 years as an
instructor in the Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation at the
University of Arkansas, she has taught a wide variety of classes and currently serves
as the coordinator of undergraduate studies in a department that serves more than
1,350 students. Her current teaching assignment is preparing future physical
educators to become teachers in a K-12 setting.
Mayes goes out of her way to help students achieve their goals, and has a particular interest in
developmental advising and empowering student to realize their true potential. She has twice been
recognized by the College of Education and Health Professions for outstanding advising and service. If
you meet Ms. Mayes, be prepared to share her enthusiasm for the University of Arkansas and the
benefits of excellent performance in higher education.
2015 Southern District Award Winners
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College/University Health Professional of the Year — Laurie Larkin
Laurie Larkin has more than 24 years of university teaching experience. Currently, she
is an assistant professor at Eastern Kentucky University, teaching both undergraduate
and graduate students in public health. Over the course of her career, Dr. Larkin has
received seven different teaching awards.
Professionally, she has served three terms as vice president of health for KAHPERD,
was elected as a Health Division delegate to the Representative Assembly for
SDAAHPERD, participated in three SDAAHPERD leadership conferences, served on the KAHPERD
Awards Committee, assisted as a KAHPERD Journal article reviewer, and served as a member of the
Division Board for Professional Preparation for the National Commission for Health Education
Credentialing.
Dr. Larkin is the co-author of the textbook, Physiological Screening Test Manual for Eating
Disorders/Disordered Eating Among Female Collegiate Athletes and several research articles. She has
presented at state, district and national conferences.
Outstanding Future Professional of the Year — Cameron Brown
Cameron Brown is currently a physical education major at the College of Charleston,
where he serves as a resident assistant. As a head sailing instructor, he has been
responsible for all facets of a junior sailing program, including creating a course
curriculum and conducting on-water and classroom lessons.
Brown volunteers with elementary physical educators at two elementary schools, and
has volunteered with the Junior Girls Day Out program, the Move, Groove & Get Active
autism program, and the Cooper River Bridge Kids Run. He also served as co-chair of the College of
Charleston Relay for Life fundraising team. Brown is the Future Professional representative on the
Southern District Leadership Council and is a Dance board member for SCAHPERD. As stated by one of
his nominators, “Cameron has exhibited many great qualities that will lead him to be successful in his
profession. He has a solid work ethic, sets standards for himself…and has made an early commitment
of getting involved in the SHAPE America organization.”
W. Clyde Partin Service Award — Christy Swaid, HEAL Alabama
Christy Swaid has been on a mission that parallels that of Southern District in
promoting healthy and active lifestyles. She is the founder of HEAL (Healthy Eating
Active Living), a nonprofit organization that provides a multifaceted elementary-school
physical education program to children in Alabama. The program guides children to
choose healthy foods and exercise for the purpose of improving and maintaining good
health. Children also learn about disease prevention and how to establish longterm,
healthy lifestyle habits.
The HEAL curriculum exceeds all Alabama state standards for physical education and provides teacher
enrichment training and ongoing support. The program is currently taught in 80 schools, reaching
approximately 15,000 children and their families. The “HEAL at HOME” component further supports
children’s healthy efforts with educational materials and activities that can be used by the entire family.
Swaid works tirelessly to provide scholarships for those schools in need.
2015 Southern District Award Winners
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W. Clyde Partin Service Award — East Tennessee State University
The Department of Kinesiology, Sport and Recreation Management at East
Tennessee State University (ETSU) has contributed significantly to the future
of SHAPE America Southern District through its efforts in hosting the Future
Professional Leadership Development Conference. Since 2006, the
department has provided the resources, time and volunteers to host a highly successfully leadership
conference annually for future professionals and professional staff from Southern District states.
Department Chair Chris Ayres and his faculty have helped organize meetings and interactive activities to
enable future professionals to network with their peers and professionals from Southern District. They
have coordinated leadership events pertinent to future professionals in health, physical education and
allied fields related to public affairs, marketing, fund development and leadership skills. They have also
arranged for accommodations, meals and transportation to the venues so the future professionals can
attend for a very nominal fee.
W. Clyde Partin Service Award — SNAG Golf
SNAG Golf, an Oklahoma-based company, designs instructional
equipment and develops programming that has revolutionized the
teaching of golf. The program is already in “full swing” in more than 1,500
Southern District schools. The company’s 2013 partnership with the
National Parks and Recreation Association and Jack Nicklaus to form the
Jack Nicklaus Learning Leagues has enabled students to transition from school golf to municipal park
play. Six of the 20 leagues are located in Southern District states.
The fundraising component of SNAG Golf provides financial support to many physical education
programs in Southern District states, training teachers in fundraising techniques that have enabled
them to earn money for golf equipment. SNAG GOLF has also has contributed to the professional
development of future professionals by providing training and equipment, at no cost, to methods
classes at various universities. The company has also hosted fundraisers to raise money for
scholarships.